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Tag: Bauchi

  • Re-run: Sacked Bauchi speaker, deputy return as PDP secures victory

    Re-run: Sacked Bauchi speaker, deputy return as PDP secures victory

    Former speaker of the Bauchi state House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman has won the Ningi State House Constituency rerun election.

    Announcing the results at the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office in Ningi on Sunday,  Returning Officer, Prof. Ahmed Abdulhamid, said Suleiman of the Peoples Democratic Party  polled a total of 11,785 votes to efeat his closest opponent, Khalid Captain Ningi of the All Progressive Congress,APC. Who scored 10,339 votes.

    He said: “By the powers conferred on me as the Returning Officer, having fulfilled the requirements and scored the highest total number of votes cast, I, Prof. Ahmed Abdulhameed, hereby declare Abubakar Y. Suleiman of the PDP as the duly elected member of the State House of Assembly.” 

    Recall that the Appeal Court ordered a rerun of the election in 10 units of the Ningi State Constituency after the APC candidate appealed against the Tribunal’s judgment.

    In a related development, the former deputy speaker, Jamilu Dahiru  also of the PDP, emerged winner of the Bauchi Central Constituency rerun election.

    Declaring the result at the Bauchi local government INEC Office, the returning officer, Prof Ismail Shehu, said: “Jamilu Umaru Dahiru scored cumulative votes of 45,240 while his closest rival, Aliyu Abdullahi Ilellah of the APC scored 40,266.”

    Nation reports that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has won all the four disputed seats in the State House of Assembly in the Saturday’s re-run elections in Bauchi, Zungur/Galambi, Ningi, and Madara/Chinade state constituencies.

    The re-run elections into the four state constituencies followed the nullification results of elections earlier held on March 18, 2023 by the State Election Petitions Tribunal and subsequently upheld by the Appellate Court, which ordered the re-run in the affected 42 polling units of 16 electoral wards in three LGAs of Bauchi, Ningi and Katagum of Bauchi State.

    Meanwhile, the returning officer for Zungur/Galambi state constituency, Prof. Adamu Samaila of ATBU declared Yusuf Ahmed of PDP as a winner with 2,233 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Ibrahim Yuguda, of APC with 1,928 votes.

  • Four women feared killed in Bauchi mining site collapse

    Four women feared killed in Bauchi mining site collapse

    Four women reportedly lost their lives when a mining pit collapsed in the Gudum Sayawa suburb of Bauchi metropolis.

    The incident also left several others injured.

    According to eyewitnesses, the collapse occurred last week and killed three of the women on the spot while the fourth one died in the hospital from the injuries she sustained.

    A community leader, Daniel Iliya, confirmed the incident to our reporter yesterday, saying the women were unable to escape from the site at the time the incident occurred.

    Read Also: Alake hails Bauchi, Benue for commitment to mining development

    He called on the government to access the mining site to avert further deaths.

    “We need the government to come and assess the min  ing site to see if it is safe for artisanal miners to work there, so we don’t lose our villagers again. If that is done, it will reduce the risks associated with mining operations.”

    The Nation reports that a similar incident occurred in 2023 at a mining site in Bar Kudu, Bogoro Local Government Area, resulting in the deaths of three women with several  others injured.

  • Police Recruitment: 22,000 applicants shortlisted for screening in Bauchi

    Police Recruitment: 22,000 applicants shortlisted for screening in Bauchi

    Commissioner of Police (CP), Bauchi Command, Mohammed Auwal says 22, 000 applicants were shortlisted for screening in the ongoing 2023/2024 police recruitment in the state.

    Auwal stated this while briefing newsmen on the screening exercise on Wednesday in Bauchi.

    He said the Police Recruitment Board had approved the commencement of screening for successful applicants for recruitment into the Constable cadre.

    “22,000 applicants were found to have satisfied the initial requirements for the next stage of the exercise, which would include both physical and credentials screening,’’ he said.

    The Police boss added that the exercise was peaceful, with an enabling environment created for the applicants and those who conducted the exercise.

    He urged the applicants to conduct themselves in a manner required of Nigerian youths desirous of a career in the Nigeria Police Force.

    Read Also: Governor Bala, whether education in Bauchi State?

    CP Auwal called on the general public to continue to have confidence in the commitment of the Nigeria Police “under the indefatigable IGP, Kayode Egbetokun,

    “The force would continue to keep protecting lives and property in the country,” he said.

    On his part, Representative of Police Service Commission Mr Angulu Kadiri commended the Command for providing condusive atmosphere for the screening exercise

    He said the screening exercise was transparent, fair, and comprehensive at the centre.

    (NAN)

  • Governor Bala, whether education in Bauchi State?

    Governor Bala, whether education in Bauchi State?

    • By Ukasha Rabiu Magama

    Sir: The last time the Bauchi state government recruited teachers for both its primary and secondary schools was in 2014-2015 when Malam Isah Yuguda was in power, and since then, no single teacher has been employed again in the sector though there are cases of retirement, changes of cadres and death.

    Bauchi State has been enumerated among the states having a high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. According to UNESCO, in October 2022, Bauchi had the highest figures, amounting to 1,239,759.

    These alarming figures are not unconnected to the government’s failure to recruit teachers, provide enough instructional materials and pay staff adequate salaries. This development has thrown thousands of Bauchi kids out of school, and sadly others to street begging and other criminal activities. 

    Recently, the Daily Trust reported how the lack of teachers and infrastructure forced the closure of many primary schools and turned pupils into farmers in Alkaleri, the governor’s local government. The paper reported that multiple public primary schools, especially in the semi-urban and rural areas of the state, are either run by volunteer teachers hired by the community development committee or by public-spirited individuals in their quest to attract parents and children who are shunning school.

    Read Also: Nigeria is in good hands, Tinubu assures citizens

    To imagine that the authorities are aware of the situation. There was a time when Korijo Usman, the SUBEB, director of state, told journalists that there were 79 primary schools in Misau local government, and each school had only one teacher.

    The governor himself had once condemned the system while expressing his dissatisfaction with the bad condition of the Dumi School. He stated that he was unhappy with SUBEB and the state’s ministry of education. 

     Therefore, if the governor himself can condemn the system and yet nothing has been done to fix it, then, the future must be seen as truly bleak.

    While the dilapidating condition of the schools could be attributed to the activities of vandals and the negligence of the host communities, government negligence contribute to nearly 70% of the problems.

    I call on the present administration of Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir to as a matter of urgency, employ sufficient teachers, build enough classrooms as well as renovate the abandoned ones. 

    Paying teachers’ salaries on time, and promoting those who are supposed to be promoted would indeed help in revitalising the education sector. Otherwise the whole system will soon collapse and the position of the state will sink further. 

    •Ukasha Rabiu Magama,

    Magama, Toro, Bauchi State. 

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court reserves judgment in Bauchi guber dispute

    BREAKING: Supreme Court reserves judgment in Bauchi guber dispute

    The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal by the All Progressives Congress Bauchi governorship candidate, Sadique Abubakar against the election of Governor Bala Mohammed.

    Read Also: Tinubu inaugurates N1 billion TETFUND project in Bauchi University

    Following the hearing from the parties involved, a five-member panel of judges led by Justice Inyang Okoro on Thursday, December 21, reserved their decision.

    Details shortly… 

  • Bauchi Corps member inaugurates N3.5 million classrooms

    Bauchi Corps member inaugurates N3.5 million classrooms

    A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Bauchi State, Rahila Garba, yesterday, inaugurated a block of two classrooms worth N3.5 million in Gudun Hausawa Primary School, near Bauchi metropolis.

    Garba, who is serving in the Office of the Head of Civil Service, said that the project was part of her Community Development Service, solely financed by Habibu Engineering Nigeria Limited.

    According to her, the idea to embark on the project was borne out of her eagerness to visit some schools and find out how conducive the pupils were in class and to make positive impact in their lives.

    She said the school caught her attention when she visited and realised that the existing structure was dilapidated as the pupils were sitting under the tree.

    Garba said: “It was this horrible experience that gave birth to the idea for the construction of additional classrooms.

    “Though at first, it was not easy to bring this idea to life, considering my financial status. But because I was determined and so passionate to see that this project is put to life, I decided to make some consultations of what it will cost to construct the entire project. And I began to shuttle here and there seeking for approval and doing some paperwork. Finally, I got the approval of the Habibu Engineering Nigeria Limited for sponsorship.

    “I am proudly saying that this project today is completed and officially inaugurated to commence class activities.

    “I believe education is the key to development in our homes, communities and nation at large, irrespective of our cultures, religion and tribes.”

    She, however, appealed to the state government and wealthy individuals to help in providing the school with chairs and other furniture.

    Read Also: Tinubu celebrates  Osimhen, Oshoala, Nnadozie at CAF

    Also, the Public Relations Officer, Habibu Engineering Nigeria Limited, Mr Salmanu Baba, said the project, which was estimated at about N3.5 million, was completed within 39 days.

    “When she approached the company, she was asked about her financial capacity and she said she only had promises from other people.

    “We decided to involve the community by tasking them to only provide us with the sand that would be used because we need to see their own commitment to the project too,” he said.

    The Bauchi State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Rifkatu Yakubu, said corps members had been encouraged by the scheme to integrate with their host communities so as to find out their challenges and proffer solutions, where necessary.

    Yakubu said this was what Garba did by finding out the first need of the community and decided to take up the challenge.

    She called on other corps members in the country to always embark on both personal and group community development projects that would impact positively on the lives of their host communities.

    Caretaker Chairperson of Bauchi Local Government Area, Mrs Zainab Baba-Takko, lauded Garba for embarking on the project.

    Baba-Takko promised that the state government would commence the renovation of other parts of the school and also provide the chairs as requested by the corps member.

  • Attempted phone theft: Protest as armed robbers stab Bauchi student to death

    Attempted phone theft: Protest as armed robbers stab Bauchi student to death

    A 500-level Geology student at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Josephine Agabaidu, met his tragic end when he was fatally stabbed by suspected armed robbers during an attempted phone theft.

    The incident was said to have occurred at about 7 pm on Saturday as he was returning to his Yelwa lodge in a suburb of Bauchi.

    The Nation learnt that despite efforts to secure medical assistance, the victim reportedly died from the injuries sustained from the attack.

    The final-year student is identified as the eldest among four siblings from his family, all enrolled at ATBU, Bauchi.

    Irked by the death of their fellow student, the ATBU students staged a peaceful protest on Monday, December 4.

    Read Also: UniCal students protest against fresh hike in tuition fees

    However, tension erupted at the Yelwa Campus in Bauchi as students protesting the killing of Agabaidu were tear-gassed by operatives of the Bauchi Police Command.

    The planned protest embarked on was disrupted by the police who stationed their armored tankers opposite the school gate on Monday.

    The situation escalated as students closed the gate, disrupting campus activities, while attempts to pacify the students were met with solidarity songs.

    Meanwhile, efforts to get a reaction from school management proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.

  • Bauchi Gov: we’ve borrowed N100b in four years

    Bauchi Gov: we’ve borrowed N100b in four years

    Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed yesterday said his administration has secured a total of N100 billion in loans since assuming office in 2019.

    He emphasized that over N90 billion of these funds were allocated to infrastructural projects, with additional allocations directed to the education and health sectors.

    Speaking at the State Executive Council meeting, the governor explained that infrastructural projects alone gulped over N90 billion.

    He assured transparency in the utilization of funds, expressing a commitment to repaying every borrowed kobo.

    He also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance service delivery, urging Commissioners to prioritize their responsibilities and endorsing the signing of performance bonds.

    Mohammed said: “You can see the projects and programs, we are just starting. We have borrowed N100 billion and today, the projects alone for the infrastructures getting to N90 billion plus.

    Read Also: How Tinubu is fighting insecurity, by Gbajabiamila

    “Of course, we are going to save some for education and health. We are saving from the little money we are getting from the Federal Government so that we can leverage this loan to do infrastructure alone. You should be aware of this. We are not thieves, we are not here to take anything out of the system, we want to take back every kobo.

    “This is our third Executive Council meeting since we came back for a second term. Our attitude to work is to make sure that we make a difference.

    “Bauchi State is our major concern and we have no misgivings against anybody. Of course, there are distractions here and there but we will not allow ourselves to be distracted.”

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court upholds Bala Mohammed’s election as Bauchi gov

    BREAKING: Appeal Court upholds Bala Mohammed’s election as Bauchi gov

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the appeal challenging the election of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

    The Nation reports following the declaration of Mohammed as the winner, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Sadique Abubakar, approached the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in the state, challenging the victory.

    Chairman of the three-man panel, P. T. Kwahar, in his judgment, affirmed the victory of Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

    However, not satisfied with the tribunal’s judgment, Abubakar filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the decision of the lower court.

    A three-member panel on Friday unanimously held that the appeal by AVM Sadique Abubakar lacked merit, awarding no cost as the court ruled that each party to the matter should bear their costs.

    Read Also: Atiku’s coalition call to unseat APC: no talks with PDP, says LP

    In the lead judgment read by Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa on Friday, held that Abubakar and the APC failed to prove the allegations of malpractices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 against Governor Mohammed and the PDP.

    The presiding justice read the judgment in the order of the appellant’s plea before the appeal court.

    On plea number one, the appellant pleaded that the election be nullified because the forms and booklets used in the election were not properly filled. The court ruled that the appellant failed to prove this allegation with the needed evidence.

    The court also ruled that the appellant failed to state the polling units involved in the said allegations and that he was unable to state what was missing in the forms. It further held that the appellant was unable to prove how the said improperly filled forms affected the results of the election.

    The court held that the witnesses called by the appellant were unable to prove that they understood what the forms looked like, while commending the tribunal for doing a thorough job by scrutinising the evidence before it.

    On the plea that there was massive non-compliance with the electoral laws, the court ruled that the appellant again could not prove this, as some of the witnesses who testified did not vote on election day and those who voted only spoke based on what they saw in their polling units alone.

    On the issue of the alleged unprofessional conduct of INEC officials, the court held the same views as the tribunal, saying it was never part of the plea by the appellant at the lower court and that it was not pleaded and could not be argued.

    The plea was ruled in favour of the first respondent, Mohammed.

    On the plea about fraudulent cancellations, mutilations and alterations to favour the PDP candidate, the appeal court noted that, if proven, falsification of results is a criminal matter that could lead to the cancellation of election results.

    However, according to the court, the appellant had the burden to prove this and had to bring the genuine one, if he argued the one tendered by INEC was falsified.

    Details shortly…

  • Bauchi and challenges of the education sector

    Bauchi and challenges of the education sector

    • By Abdullahi Haruna

    The education sector is the bedrock of a progressive society, yet it often grapples with challenges that impede its development. In Nigeria, much like other parts of the world, a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, policy makers, educators, media, civil society organizations, and dedicated individuals, consistently voice their concerns. These issues encompass inadequate budgetary allocations, infrastructure deficiencies, a low teacher-student ratio, and a shortage of qualified and motivated personnel, among other persistent problems. However, Bauchi State, under the leadership of Senator Bala Mohammed, has risen as a beacon of hope, demonstrating how innovative strategies and dedicated efforts can revolutionize the sector. It stands as a role model for other northern states, offering a blueprint for addressing the significant challenges that confront the education system.

    Historically, traditional approaches have kept the education sector stagnant, but Senator Mohammed, renowned for his unwavering commitment to excellence, advocates for a different path to reinvigorate the educational landscape. He believes that the key to transformation lies in strategically placing qualified individuals in key positions. In line with this vision, the governor has reappointed Dr. Jamila Mohammed Dahiru as the Commissioner for Education in the state. This decision underscores the governor’s recognition of the value of individuals with a proven track record of excellence and unwavering ethical standards. Over the years, Dr. Jamila has been a steadfast advocate for quality education, collaborating with numerous local and international charitable organizations to bolster the sector through policy advocacy and grassroots mobilization.

    Successive leaders in the past often complained about problems and engaged in blame games without providing substantial solutions. For the governor of Bauchi State, the era of playing the blame game is over; it’s now time to take action and address the challenges that have prevented the sector from making progress. Therefore, the question is no longer about identifying the challenges but rather about the measures the Bauchi government is implementing to bring about change.

    Read Also: NSCDC arrests suspected gay in Bauchi for killing student

    One of the critical issues that have plagued the sector includes the acute shortage of qualified teachers, school closures, and students forced to resort to farming due to a lack of educational opportunities. This problem, has been over the years, considered as the most pressing and widespread concern within the education sector.

    While these challenges are not limited to Bauchi State alone, the state under the stewardship of Governor Bala Mohammed has embarked on radical initiatives to rewrite the story and change the narratives. A hallmark accomplishment is the substantial reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the state, with over 500,000 children successfully reintegrated into the education system. This achievement underscores the administration’s relentless dedication to ensuring equitable access to quality education for every child.

    Another glaring challenge in Bauchi State is the alarming teacher-to-student ratio, with one teacher responsible for every 200 students in public secondary schools. This foundational quandary is being resolutely addressed, with the recent green light given to the recruitment of a staggering 3,000 teachers.

    This recruitment drive encompasses the appointment of 1,000 specialized subject teachers for Senior Secondary Schools and the deployment of 2,000 educators to lower and upper Basic Schools, where the dearth of teachers is most pronounced.

    Being a man who believes in employing scientific approach to addressing social problems, before embarking on this large-scale teacher recruitment, Governor Mohammed commissioned a comprehensive audit and overhaul of the entire education system. This meticulous review unveiled a startling revelation – Bauchi State had a bloated payroll with over 8,000 teachers, many of whom were absent from their designated posts. This inefficiency was exacerbated by issues such as the presence of “ghost workers,” retirements, and other systemic inadequacies.

    Recognizing the exigency for a comprehensive census of active teachers and an assessment of school facilities, the government undertook this crucial exercise. The findings have since provided invaluable insights for informed decision-making and strategic planning in the education sector.

    Governor Mohammed’s administration does not solely fixate on teacher recruitment; it is equally championing technology-driven solutions to elevate the quality of education. Innovative programmes, including the UNICEF-backed Teacher Information Management System (TMIS) and the expanded implementation of fingerprint monitoring in secondary schools; these are strategically aimed at diminishing teacher absenteeism and elevating pedagogical standards.

    Moreover, the endorsement to deploy School Quality Assurance Dashboard Applications in Basic and Post Basic schools will not only enhance the monitoring, coaching, and oversight of teacher performance but also yield cost-effective mechanisms for educational management. This underscores a resolute zero-tolerance policy towards substandard education in the state.

    In response to the daunting challenges confronting the education sector, Governor Mohammed declared a state of emergency, inaugurating an ambitious program for the revitalization and construction of schools. The administration is resolutely committed to closing the yawning infrastructure gap, ensuring enhanced access to quality education. This aspiration is bolstered by substantial financial allocations amounting to billions of Naira, intended to propel the implementation of School Improvement Projects across all existing educational institutions in the state.

    Furthermore, plans are in motion for the establishment of 120 new Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, with a pair situated in each of the 20 local government areas. The blueprint also includes the creation of 20 mega schools, each equipped with over 40 classrooms, strategically positioned to serve each local government area. Financial support from global organizations, including the World Bank, augments these ambitious endeavours.

    Governor Mohammed has meticulously instituted monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, committees, and frameworks to ensure judicious resource management and to extract maximum value from investments in the education sector.

    Acknowledging the pivotal role of teachers in the education system, the government has allocated funding for state-of-the-art teaching aids, comprehensive welfare packages for educators, and substantial resources for teachers professional development training. This comprehensive training encompasses digital skills, contemporary teaching techniques, pedagogy training, and other soft skills geared towards elevating the quality of teaching and learning in the state. This unswerving commitment to teacher development and welfare is a linchpin in achieving enduring and affirmative transformations in the education sector.

    Bauchi State’s beleaguered education sector, after years of grappling with substantial challenges, now finds itself on an extraordinary transformational trajectory. Governor Bala Mohammed’s proactive measures and commitment to reinstating educational standards represent a seminal shift in the right direction. Bauchi State’s education vision of becoming a model to other states in northern Nigeria, is not a mere aspiration, it is a rapidly becoming a reality.

    • Haruna is an education enthusiast based in Abuja.